Eastern Mud Turtle vs. Eastern Musk Turtle

Both are small, dark, plain-shelled turtles of shallow water. Turn one over: an Eastern Mud Turtle's lower shell is large and has two hinges, front and back, so it can close up. An Eastern Musk Turtle's is small, with skin showing between the plates and only a weak hinge. A Musk Turtle also has two bold pale stripes on the head.

Photographs via iNaturalist under Creative Commons licences; the photographers are credited on the sheet.

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Wildsight identifies the reptiles and amphibians of the United States. Every comparison